Amsterdam News
A historic Black-owned weekly newspaper serving New York City, with roots in Harlem and a long-standing focus on African American civic, political, cultural, and community affairs.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Amsterdam News, also known as the New York Amsterdam News, is a Black-owned weekly newspaper based in Harlem, Manhattan. Founded in 1909 by James Henry Anderson, it is among the oldest surviving American newspapers created primarily for African American readers and has developed into one of the most prominent institutions in the Black press. Although its editorial identity is strongly associated with Harlem and New York City, the paper has historically covered national and international affairs as well as local community news. The newspaper began in the San Juan Hill neighborhood of Upper Manhattan with a reported initial investment of $10. It took its name from Amsterdam Avenue, near Anderson's home, where the first issue was produced. The paper initially sold for two cents and moved uptown as Harlem's Black population and political importance grew. Its early locations included West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue, followed by a move to Eighth Avenue, now also known in Harlem as Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The former Amsterdam News Building on Seventh Avenue, occupied by the paper from 1916 to 1938, is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Amsterdam News became influential not simply as a source of information but as an advocate and agenda-setting institution. Its pages have carried work by or about major African American political, intellectual, and cultural figures, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Roy Wilkins, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Malcolm X. The paper is credited with being the first newspaper to recognize and publish Malcolm X. Its reporting and editorial campaigns have addressed civil rights, racial discrimination, urban policy, education, policing, economic opportunity, arts and culture, and the political life of New York's Black communities. The publication also played an important role in the history of labor and Black-owned media. In 1930 it became the second Black newspaper admitted to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, following the Chicago Defender. In 1935 its editorial employees went on strike during a period of financial distress and bankruptcy proceedings. The settlement that ended the dispute provided improved wages, a shorter workweek, paid vacation, dismissal protections, a guild shop, and the removal of strikebreakers. In 1936 the paper became the first Black newspaper unionized throughout its departments by the Newspaper Guild of New York. Under publisher C. B. Powell, the paper expanded beyond neighborhood reporting and strengthened its national news coverage. By 1961 it was described as the largest weekly community newspaper in the United States, and its circulation reached approximately 100,000 at its 1940s peak. The publication changed from broadsheet to tabloid format in 1979. In 1971 Powell sold the newspaper to AmNews Corporation, which remains its ownership vehicle. Wilbert A. Tatum later consolidated family control, became publisher and chief executive, and broadened the paper's coverage of international affairs. In 1997 he transferred the publisher and editor-in-chief roles to his daughter, Elinor Ruth Tatum. Amsterdam News entered digital publishing with a companion website and online edition in 2009. It continues to publish a weekly print newspaper and digital journalism for New York's Black communities and for readers interested in African American politics, culture, history, and public affairs. As of 2024, reference material reports weekly circulation of nearly 22,000 print copies. The publication remains a family-associated, privately held community newspaper rather than a publicly traded media company.
History
The New York Amsterdam News was founded on December 4, 1909, by James Henry Anderson in Manhattan's San Juan Hill neighborhood. Anderson reportedly began with $10, six sheets of paper, and two pencils. The newspaper was named for Amsterdam Avenue, near the founder's home, and initially sold for two cents a copy. As Black migration and residential expansion transformed Harlem, the paper moved uptown in 1910 to West 135th Street. It subsequently operated from Seventh Avenue, including the Amsterdam News Building used from 1916 to 1938, before relocating to its present general Harlem area on Eighth Avenue in the early 1940s. The publication grew during a period when the African American press provided news, political advocacy, employment information, cultural criticism, and community coordination that were often absent or distorted in mainstream newspapers. Amsterdam News became an influential Black-owned institution and published or featured prominent voices such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Roy Wilkins, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Malcolm X. It is recognized for being the first newspaper to identify and publish Malcolm X. Its editorial role extended beyond reporting: the paper used its influence to discuss racial inequality, urban conditions, public morality, civil rights, political representation, and Black cultural achievement. The newspaper's early corporate history included changes in ownership following the death of Edward Warren and the eventual sale of James Henry Anderson's stock. A major labor conflict began on October 9, 1935, when editorial employees went on strike. The dispute occurred amid bankruptcy proceedings involving the newspaper's creditors. A settlement reached on December 24, 1935, with the participation of bankruptcy receiver Laurence H. Axman, Newspaper Guild president Carl Randau, and businessmen C. B. Powell and Phillip M. H. Savory, granted employees a wage increase, a five-day forty-hour workweek, two weeks of annual vacation, enhanced dismissal notice for long-serving employees, a guild shop, and the removal of strikebreaking personnel. Powell and Savory subsequently took control of the paper, with Powell becoming publisher. In 1936 Amsterdam News became the first Black newspaper unionized in all departments by the Newspaper Guild of New York. The paper also achieved institutional recognition. In October 1930 it became the second Black newspaper admitted to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, after the Chicago Defender. Its circulation reached about 100,000 during the 1940s, when it ranked among the four largest African American newspapers in the United States. In 1961 it was described as the nation's largest weekly community newspaper. The paper's influence was visible in New York civic life; contemporary accounts credited its Harlem coverage and editorial pressure with helping draw attention to vice and other community problems. From 1972 through 1979, it also ran an art-review column by Gylbert Coker covering African American art exhibitions and artists. On May 1, 1971, Powell announced his retirement and sold the newspaper to AmNews Corporation. Wilbert A. Tatum later served as chairman of the corporation's board and became editor-in-chief, publisher, and chief executive in 1982. Under Tatum, the newspaper widened its perspective, especially in international affairs, while retaining its Harlem and New York community base. In 1996 he acquired the last outside investor's interest, consolidating family control. In December 1997 he handed the publisher and editor-in-chief roles to his daughter, Elinor Ruth Tatum, who continued as the paper's leading publisher and editor. Amsterdam News changed from broadsheet to tabloid in 1979 and launched a companion website and online edition in 2009. The modern publication combines a weekly print product with digital reporting. Reference material reports that print circulation was nearly 22,000 copies per week in 2024, substantially below its mid-century peak but still significant for a specialized metropolitan community newspaper. The paper remains active, privately held, and focused on Black New York, while continuing to cover national and international issues affecting African American communities.
- 2009
Digital edition launch
[1]Amsterdam News launches its companion website and online edition at AmsterdamNews.com.
- 1997
Elinor Ruth Tatum assumes publishing leadership
[1]Elinor Ruth Tatum succeeds her father as publisher and editor-in-chief.
- 1996
Tatum family ownership consolidation
[1]Wilbert A. Tatum purchases the remaining outside investment, consolidating ownership within the Tatum family.
- 1982
Wilbert A. Tatum takes executive leadership
[1]Wilbert A. Tatum becomes publisher and chief executive and broadens the paper's international editorial coverage.
- 1979
Tabloid conversion
[1]The print newspaper changes from broadsheet to tabloid format.
- 1971
Sale to AmNews Corporation
[1]C. B. Powell sells the newspaper to AmNews Corporation after announcing his retirement.
- 1961
Largest weekly community newspaper
[1]The publication is described as the largest weekly community newspaper in the United States.
- 1936
Full departmental unionization
[1]The paper becomes the first Black newspaper unionized in all departments by the Newspaper Guild of New York.
- 1935
Editorial strike
[1]Editorial staff begin a strike during the paper's financial and bankruptcy crisis.
- 1930
Audit Bureau of Circulations admission
[1]Amsterdam News becomes the second Black newspaper admitted to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Products and positioning
A historic Black-owned community newspaper combining Harlem-centered reporting with national and international coverage of African American public life, politics, culture, and social issues.
Newspaper · 1909
Weekly print newspaper
The core Amsterdam News product is a weekly print newspaper serving New York City, particularly Black communities in Harlem and across the metropolitan area. Its coverage includes local and national politics, community affairs, civil rights, social issues, education, public safety, business, religion, and cultural life. The paper adopted a tabloid format in 1979 and has continued as a specialized community publication.
Digital news · 2009
AmsterdamNews.com
The companion website and online edition extend the newspaper's journalism beyond the weekly print cycle. The digital operation publishes news, opinion, community reporting, cultural coverage, and archival or topical material for local, national, and international readers interested in African American affairs.
Editorial section · 1972
Arts and culture coverage
Arts and culture journalism is a longstanding part of the Amsterdam News identity. The paper has covered African American artists, exhibitions, literature, performance, and cultural institutions. Its historical record includes a dedicated art-review column by Gylbert Coker that ran from 1972 to 1979.
Marketing campaigns
- 1972African American arts criticism initiative
New York City · United States
The paper expanded sustained coverage of African American visual art through a column by Gylbert Coker, reviewing exhibitions and documenting Black artists and cultural production.
Outcome. The column ran through 1979 and contributed to the newspaper's role as a venue for African American arts criticism.
- 1935Editorial staff labor campaign
New York City
Amsterdam News editorial employees organized and struck for improved workplace conditions during the newspaper's financial crisis. The dispute sought wage improvements, reduced working hours, paid vacation, job protections, union recognition, and the removal of strikebreakers.
Outcome. A December 1935 settlement granted the principal requested workplace protections and helped establish the paper as a fully unionized Black newspaper.
Brand decisions
2009
Launch of the online editionProduct launchBackground
The newspaper expanded beyond its weekly print schedule as digital publishing became an increasingly important distribution channel.
Action taken
Amsterdam News launched a companion website and online edition at AmsterdamNews.com.
Aftermath
The publication gained a digital channel for serving readers in New York and beyond its print circulation area.
1979
Switch from broadsheet to tabloidGeneration changeBackground
After decades of broadsheet publication, the newspaper changed its physical format during a period of evolving metropolitan newspaper economics and readership habits.
Action taken
Amsterdam News adopted a tabloid format.
Aftermath
The tabloid format became part of the publication's continuing print identity.
Recent events
- 2009
Amsterdam News launches its companion website and online edition[1]
Product launch
The publication expanded its print operation with an online edition at AmsterdamNews.com.
- 1997
Elinor Ruth Tatum becomes publisher and editor-in-chief[1]
Leadership change
Wilbert A. Tatum stepped down from the publisher and editor-in-chief positions and transferred leadership to his daughter, Elinor Ruth Tatum.
- 1996
Tatum family control is consolidated[1]
M&A
Wilbert A. Tatum bought the last remaining investor's interest, placing ownership of the paper firmly in the Tatum family's hands.
- 1982
Wilbert A. Tatum becomes publisher and chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Wilbert A. Tatum, already chairman of the AmNews Corporation board and editor-in-chief, became publisher and chief executive officer and expanded the newspaper's international editorial perspective.
- 1979
Amsterdam News adopts tabloid format[1]
Product generation
The newspaper changed its physical format from broadsheet to tabloid.
- 1971
Ownership passes to AmNews Corporation[1]
M&A · Leadership change
C. B. Powell announced his retirement and sold the newspaper to AmNews Corporation, the ownership entity associated with the publication thereafter.
- 1936
Amsterdam News becomes the first fully unionized Black newspaper under the Newspaper Guild of New York[1]
Other
Following the previous year's labor dispute, the publication became unionized in all departments by the Newspaper Guild of New York.
- 1935
Editorial staff strike during financial crisis[1]
Other · Bankruptcy
Editorial employees began a strike that became a landmark labor dispute in Black-owned journalism. The settlement included wage, scheduling, vacation, dismissal-notice, and union-recognition provisions.
- 1930
Amsterdam News becomes the second Black newspaper admitted to the Audit Bureau of Circulations[1]
Other
The newspaper joined the Audit Bureau of Circulations, following the Chicago Defender and gaining an important form of independently audited circulation recognition.
- 1909
Amsterdam News is founded in Upper Manhattan[1]
Other
James Henry Anderson founded the newspaper in the San Juan Hill neighborhood, establishing the publication that later became closely identified with Harlem and New York's Black press.
Sources3 sources
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